Austin Powder

Austin Powder Shows Up Strong at SAFEX 2026

At this year’s XXI SAFEX International Congress in Lisbon, Austin Powder made a powerful statement with a 37-member delegation fully committed to advancing safety, knowledge sharing, and industry leadership.

From leading technical training sessions to contributing six impactful presentations, our team was at the forefront of the conversations shaping the future of the explosives industry. We didn’t just participate—we helped drive progress.

Key highlights:
• Leading specialized training on safe explosives operations
• Driving collaboration in global workgroups on critical safety topics
• Sharing insights on AI, transportation safety, human behavior, and incident prevention
• Strengthening the industry’s “Corporate Memory” through knowledge exchange
But beyond the numbers, SAFEX 2026 reinforced what matters most: our shared responsibility to protect one another and to continuously raise the bar for safety.

Safety is Our 1st Priority

Austin Powder Supports Education and the Future of Young People in Argentina

In line with its commitment to education, community development, and the creation of long-term opportunities, Austin Powder is proud to participate as a sponsor in a new edition of the student sponsorship program “La Universidad a tu Alcance” (“University Within Your Reach”).

This initiative is led by the Tandil University Graduates Association in partnership with the National University of Central Buenos Aires Province (UNICEN) and, this year, also includes Faro Verde as a strategic partner. The program is designed to support university students around Tandil, Olavarria and Azul, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, helping them continue and successfully complete their studies by providing financial assistance and mentoring during a critical stage of their academic and personal journey.

“At Austin Powder, we are proud to support initiatives that promote education and create real opportunities for young people in the communities where we operate. Investing in education is also an investment in sustainable development and in the future of the Tandil–Olavarría–Azul region,” said Juan Mario Albarello, Tandil Branch Manager.

World Environment Day
Sustainability that matters starts with measurable action.

At Austin Powder, sustainability is part of how we operate every day. We continue strengthening our environmental performance through lower water consumption, reduced waste generation, and improved emissions intensity, while advancing key climate action initiatives across our global footprint.

Progress happens step by step — through disciplined ex*****on, innovation, and a long-term commitment to the communities and environments where we operate.

This Photo of the Month was taken by Donovan Faulkner, Blast Crew Member in California, USA, and is entitled, The Art of Blasting, Painted by Nature. Donovan says, “Morning light washes over the quarry wall, a perfect beginning to the blaster’s day..

Breaking Barriers Underground With 72,600 Tonnes of Rock Blasted from the Surface

Big moment underground when Austin Powder and Nyrstar successfully fired a historic surface-initiated underground blast, safely breaking 72,600+ tonnes from Immel Mine’s Stope 25 77 W, with zero personnel underground.

Using the E*STAR CUBE centralized blasting system, the team remotely verified and fired 1,350 electronic detonators from the surface, delivering millisecond-accurate timing, full digital traceability, and unmatched control for one of the largest stope blasts executed this way.

The result? Improved safety, reduced misfire risk, precise fragmentation, and a complete digital audit trail — proving that large-scale underground blasting can be safer, smarter, and fully connected. This milestone marks the next chapter in a six-year partnership built on trust, innovation, and the pursuit of what’s possible underground. Read the full Benefit Study at this link.
https://austinpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Breaking-Barriers-Underground-72600-Tonnes-Blasted-from-the-Surface.pdf

Scaling Green: Expanding Dinamita Nursery Vision to 10,000 Plants

Austin Powder has expanded the Dinamita Plant Nursery, now reaching a milestone capacity of 10,000 native plants annually. With new greenhouses and a focus on resilient species, the project supports reforestation, biodiversity, and healthier ecosystems in surrounding communities.

A great example of scaling sustainability with long-term impact.

Youth Get Real World Avalanche Awareness Experience in B.C.

The Fernie Secondary School students in British Columbia recently left the classroom to spend a full day at Fernie Alpine Resort learning about avalanche safety through a hands-on awareness program supported by the ski patrol, Avalanche Canada, and local community members, including Austin Powder Avalanche.

Under clear skies and fresh snowfall, students used skis, transceivers, shovels, and probes to practice real-world rescue scenarios, snowpack analysis, and hazard recognition. Ski patrollers guided students through the ways weather and terrain affect avalanche conditions, demonstrated controlled avalanche mitigation methods, and introduced the role of avalanche dogs in search-and-rescue operations.

The experience was built on previous classroom instruction, giving students their first opportunity to apply avalanche safety principles in active mountain terrain. Fernie Alpine Resort provided lift access and equipment support, while Avalanche Canada and local businesses supplied training gear to ensure full participation. Educators said the day highlighted the importance of preparation and community collaboration in mountain safety, reinforcing that recreation in alpine environments requires knowledge, responsibility, and respect.

Meet Leslie Stark, Emulsion Quality & Development Manager for Austin Powder. Leslie was highlighted by the Institute of Makers of Explosives during Women's History Month. See the complete story at this link.

https://www.ime.org/aws/IME/pt/sd/news_article/616187/_PARENT/layout_details/false

Great Place to Work Certification Across Latin America

We are delighted to share a new milestone that reflects our teams’ ongoing commitment to building a strong, people-centered, and inclusive organizational culture: all six Latin American countries where Austin Powder operates —Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico— have earned the Great Place to Work® certification.

This important recognition highlights the collective effort of our employees to continue fostering workplaces grounded in trust, collaboration, respect, and pride in belonging. Achieving this certification at a regional level reaffirms that, beyond the unique characteristics of each country, we share a common culture focused on people's well-being, approachable leadership, and professional development.

In Argentina, this recognition takes on additional significance, as Austin Powder was also included in the Best Places to Work™ 2026 ranking, within the category of companies with 251 to 1,000 employees, placing among the 25 organizations best rated by their teams. The study assessed 300 organizations and gathered insights from more than 100,000 employees, highlighting organizational cultures built on trust, fairness, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.

This new achievement fills us with pride and motivates us to continue strengthening a culture where every person can grow, develop, and feel connected to a shared purpose.